Rapid response to person in the water

The Wednesday evening training exercise had just completed with the lifeboat team about to recover with the shore crew when an urgent request for lifeboat assistance was received.

The call came in from UK Coastguard Humber Operation Centre with reports of one person well off the shore in the Cambois Bay in difficulty.

Newbiggin's Atlantic 85 lifeboat 'Richard Wake Burdon' headed at full speed south to the search area and arrived at Cambois Bay shortly afterwards to find the casualty in a very onerous location. They were brought onto the safety of the lifeboat then given immediate casualty care whilst the lifeboat headed back to station. On arrival the casualty was handed over to a team from the North East Ambulance Service where further casualty care was administered.

Throughout the incident on scene support was given by the Coastguard Rescue Teams from Newbiggin and Blyth which assisted in a successful outcome for this incident.

RNLI media contacts

For more information please telephone Richard Martin, RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer Newbiggin on 07980 010544 or [email protected] or Jim Rice Regional Media Manager – North East & East telephone 07810 658 072 email jim_r[email protected] or contact RNLI Public Relations on 01202 336789

If you would like to find out more about Newbiggin lifeboat station, its volunteers and its heritage then take a look at the local websites.

Key facts about the RNLI

The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 142,700 lives.

Learn more about the RNLI

For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.

Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries

Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.